Nagpur: All is definitely not well with Ajinkya Rahane. With the immediate prospect putting him in line to lead India in the final Test against Sri Lanka in Kohli’s absence, the larger prospect is unfortunately a gloomy one.
On a day where almost every Indian batsmen manhandled Sri Lanka with as many as four of them getting to three figures, Rahane mustered only 2 runs, falling yet again to a spinner.
The Indian vice-captain's struggle against spin bowling has been well documented in the past one year. From now retired left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari, off- spinner Moeen Ali to Dilruwan Perera, Rahane has not been able to break the slow-bowler code with wretched run of form, save 132 at Pallekele earlier this year, which has been his only innings of note in recent times.
To top it all, Rohit Sharma, making a comeback into the side, made full use of the opportunity by scoring a fluent century in India’s run fest at Nagpur, which could put Rahane in some sort of pressure if Kohli & the team management do decide to go in with an extra bowler in South Africa.
Where Rahane has been struggling to make use of the long home season, Rohit has impressed one and all with the limited opportunities he has got scoring three 50 plus scores in his last five Test innings.
However, Pujara is confident that Rahane is only one innings away from regaining his lost touch.
"Rahane is a class player. Obviously, this is the time when he is not scoring but he is someone, who will be back in form soon. His work ethics are remarkable and I am very sure that going forward, he is one innings away.
"The moment he gets a big score, he will be back in form and be quite a useful player for the Indian team," Pujara said when asked about Rahane's struggle for the past one season.
The fact that the rival teams are dissecting Rahane's apparent weakness against spinners was accepted by Sri Lankan bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake.
"We have watched with the software we have. We have discussed about him and we have executed that," said Ratnayake.
However, there is a possibility that Rahane will have less uncomfortable time during the upcoming tour of South Africa, where spinners won’t play a crucial part. His numbers also back his overseas claims as he averages 35.64 in India and 53.44 away – one of the best in the Indian side.